Mountains (Alabama)
Mountains, aka North Alabama, is a region at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains known for its abundant natural beauty, including many caves, lakes, and waterfalls.
Cities
- 🌍 Ardmore
- 🌍 Athens - the "chicken stew capital of the world."
- 🌍 Arab
- 🌍 Boaz
- 🌍 Centre
- 🌍 Crane Hill
- 🌍 Cullman - home of the Ave Maria Grotto
- 🌍 Decatur
- 🌍 Double Springs
- 🌍 Elkmont - home of Belle Cheve Cheese
- 🌍 Florence
- 🌍 Fort Payne
- 🌍 Guntersville
- 🌍 Hamilton
- 🌍 Huntsville - home of Marshall Space Flight Center
- 🌍 Moulton
- 🌍 Muscle Shoals - Alabama's Music capitol
- 🌍 Oneonta
- 🌍 Russellville
- 🌍 Scottsboro
- 🌍 Tuscumbia - Helen Keller's home
- Upshaw
Other destinations
- 🌍 Sipsey Wilderness
- 🌍 Joe Wheeler State Park
- 🌍 Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
- 🌍 Bankhead National Forest
- 🌍 Dismals Canyon
- 🌍 Natural Bridge Park
- 🌍 Monte Sano
- 🌍 Cathedral Caverns
- 🌍 Lake Guntersville
- 🌍 Bucks Pocket
- 🌍 High Falls Park
- 🌍 DeSoto State Park
- 🌍 Little River Canyon
- 🌍 Rickwood Caverns
- 🌍 Walls of Jericho
Understand
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Get in
Huntsville International Airport (HSV) has direct flights from Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington DC, on American; Atlanta and Detroit on Delta; and Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Washington DC on United. Frontier Airlines started nonstop service from Huntsville to Denver and Orlando in October 2018. Silver Airways operates flights from Orlando. Other options include Northwest Alabama Regional Airport MSL IATA.
Huntsville was once notorious for having some of the highest average fares in the United States. While the affordability of flying Huntsville has improved greatly, the reputation remains, and many locals and visitors still use the Nashville (BNA) or Birmingham (BHM) airport whenever flying into or out of North Alabama. Both airports are roughly 1½ hours away from Huntsville.
Get around
As with much of the United States, access to a car is absolutely necessary to get around when visiting North Alabama. Huntsville's public bus system is not very extensive, and waits between buses have been known to reach up to an hour.
Despite the stereotypes surrounding Appalachia and the South in general, most roads in this part of the country are well maintained. Dirt roads are hard to find in the modern day, although unpaved gravel roads are somewhat more common. Due to the mountainous terrain in the northeast part of the state, a high clearance and/or 4-wheel drive vehicle may come in handy if visiting more rural areas.
Do
- 🌍 Spring Valley Beach Water Park (Blountsville).
- The Talladega Scenic Drive winds approximately 26 miles (40 km) along the backbone of the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The drive climbs to Cheaha Mountain and Cheaha State Park, the highest point in Alabama. In autumn, this drive bursts with color as the oak, maple, hickory, and persimmon change color. In spring, the dogwood and redbud are equally beautiful.
Drink
Huntsville has a fast-growing craft beer industry.
Stay safe
Huntsville has a very high crime rate for a city of its size. However, crime is highly concentrated in the areas of the city north of University Dr and west of I-565, areas which the average visitor has little reason to visit.
Venomous snakes such as the copperhead are present in the area, so be aware when hiking during the warmer months.
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